Mettenberger says he’s a whole new QB

This summer, Zach Mettenberger felt different. It didn’t matter where he was either.

“Even being at” SEC “media day, I’m so much more comfortable and relaxed,” the LSU quarterback said. “I’m not sweating as much as I did last year.”

Mettenberger is no longer that untested QB of last August, the one who was booted from Georgia four years ago, the one who starred at a Kansas junior college in 2010 but hadn’t yet experienced life as an SEC starter.

With the experience comes expectations for the 6-foot-5, 230-pound senior. LSU’s defense will be in rebuilding mode — it lost eight starters — and Mettenberger has a new offensive coordinator — longtime NFL coach Cam Cameron.

“I feel like, if” Greg Studrawa “was still our offensive coordinator, you’re still going to see a totally different Zach, totally different player on the field,” Mettenberger said. “Just comes with a guy’s first year to second year playing. Now that I get a guy with the pedigree that” Cameron “has — the Super Bowl ring, the Pro Bowlers he’s worked with — it’s definitely making me work like a pro quarterback.”

All three of LSU’s losses last year could be attributed to its lackluster passing game, one that ranked 11th in the SEC. Cameron is expected to open up the passing game and use Mettenberger’s strong arm.

Mettenberger completed 58 percent of his passes last season but tossed just 12 touchdowns and threw for an average of 200 yards a game. This is a different Mettenberger, though, the former four-star prospect claims. And it’s not just because he’s shaved off his “Met-stache,” the nickname given to his mustache last year.